2002 Yamaha Raptor 660 - Bed Toys

The new 2002 Yamaha 660R Raptor is rude, obnoxious, and in-your-face. Even when this aggressive machine is silent and parked, it exudes energy like a 12-year-old with Attention Deficit Disorder. The Raptor seems to be screaming at you all the time to go riding, hard and fast, on the most brutal terrain you can find.

The Raptor is to ATVs what the Porsche Turbo is to automobiles-it's designed for performance and handling above all else. The Raptor isn't designed as a utility ATV for putting slowly around the ranch, or for hauling hay to the horses. Using it for that type of work would be akin to using the aforementioned Porsche to haul sheets of plywood.

Powering the Raptor is the largest engine available in a sport ATV. It measures in at a massive 660 ccs and sports a 9.2:1 compression ratio. Some of the notable features of this SOHC four-stroke powerhouse are five valves-three intakes and two exhausts-liquid cooling, an engine counterbalancer, dual 33mm BSR Mikuni carbs, and lots of lightweight aluminum components. The result is an engine that revs to a mind-boggling 9,000 rpm redline while maintaining smooth power delivery throughout the rpm range. As a bonus, the Raptor features electric start, which is uncommon on high-performance ATVs.

The Raptor features a motocross-spec five-speed transmission with, get this, Reverse. Anyone who's ever ridden an ATV knows the value of Reverse on the trail. You only have to ride a machine without it once before you are slapped with the reality of trying to move a stubborn ATV backwards out of a tight spot with nothing but muscle. A sequential shifter ensures smooth gear changes to the rear-axle chain drive.

The Raptor also features a beefy long-travel suspension. Both the front double wishbone and rear swing arm can be precisely dialed in to match not only trail conditions but also the rider's ability and size. Excellent, effective stopping power is via triple disc brakes with two 161mm disc brakes up front and a single 220mm disc brake in the rear. Finally, Yamaha engineers integrated as much weight-saving aluminum as possible into the design of the Raptor, including knuckle joints, levers, front and rear rims, swing arm, oil tank, front and rear brakes, top A-arm, wheel spindles, and the oil and brake reservoirs.

If you like fast, cutting-edge, performance-oriented ATVs, the beast known as the Raptor is calling your name. It's a predator that looks at most other ATVs as simply lunch.